Orthodontic kit and methods for same

ABSTRACT

A method for providing orthodontic therapy. The method includes the steps of providing a kit that includes an enclosure and tools and components for providing orthodontic therapy using braces to a single patient, applying the braces to the single patient&#39;s teeth using the tools, placing the tools back into the kit, storing the kit, and reusing the kit at the single patient&#39;s subsequent visits during the term of the orthodontic therapy.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/323,667, filed Dec. 12, 2011, which is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/038,752, filed Feb. 27, 2008 now abandoned, theentireties of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to orthodontic kits and, moreparticularly, to orthodontic kits and methods for using same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dentists performing orthodontics use a number of different tools andcomponents to apply and adhere orthodontic brackets to teeth, preparethe teeth for the brackets and then attach wires and other tensioningdevices to move the teeth.

Some dentists use indirect bonding trays to conveniently and accuratelyposition all of the braces on the teeth. The bonding tray is made on amodel of a patient's teeth and the brackets are included within thetray. These custom trays are then used to effectively bond the braces tothe patient's teeth.

One issue with the current bracket attachment system is that bondingtrays are made by independent orthodontic labs and the braces are madeby separate orthodontic suppliers. The dentist typically inventories thebrackets, and, after making the mold of the patient's teeth, pulls thedesired brackets from his/her inventory and sends them, along with themodels/molds of the patent's teeth, to the orthodontic lab. The lab thenmakes the bonding trays with the brackets (sent by the dentist) includedtherein and sends them back to the dentist.

After receipt of the indirect bonding trays, the dentist then uses anumber of tools and components to place the braces (including thebrackets) on the patients teeth. For example, during the procedure, thedentist may use a disc for enamel reproximation, a diamond bur forenamel reproximation, a diamond scrip for enamel reproximation,orthodontic wires, metal and rubber ligature ties, bonding adhesiveresin, cheek retractors and orthodontic cement among other tools andcomponents. The current protocol is to purchase many of these tools andcomponents from multiple suppliers. In addition to the time expendedordering components from multiple suppliers, many of the tools orcomponents may not match the requirements of the particular patient'steeth. Also, many of the tools or components, such as the diamond disc,strip and bur require hot sterilization if they are to be used onmultiple patients. Due to the high temperature and pressure, the hotsterilization damages and/or degrades the functionality of these toolsover time. Other tools, for example the cheek retractor, are typicallydisposed of after a single visit, to the office by a patient.

The need for the dentist to inventory supplies, such as wires, brackets,metal and rubber ligature ties, bonding adhesive resin, cheek retractorsand orthodontic cement, as well as the need to sterilize and dispose ofother components is time consuming, ineffective, costly and a hassle forthe dentist. This puts a lot of responsibility on the dentist and italso increases the risk that the patient will be inconvenienced if thereis a problem with inventory control or shipping.

Accordingly, a need exists for a solution to the problems discussedabove.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for providing orthodontic therapy. The method includesthe steps of providing a kit that includes an enclosure and tools andcomponents for providing orthodontic therapy using braces to a singlepatient, applying the braces to the single patient's teeth using thetools, placing the tools back into the kit, storing the kit, and reusingthe kit at all of the single patient's subsequent visits during the termof the orthodontic therapy. In a preferred embodiment, the tools in thekit are never hot sterilized during the term of the orthodontic therapy.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a kit for a dental patient that includes an enclosure and atleast two of the following components: at least one bonding tray, a toolfor enamel reproximation, an orthodontic wire, brackets, ligature ties,bonding adhesive, at least one cheek retractor, orthodontic cement, athank you card to give to the patient, and a treatment plan. Inpreferred embodiment, the treatment plan is developed by a third party,not the patient's dental professional, specifically for the patient, theorthodontic wire and brackets are colored to match the patient's teeth,and the kit includes a system for associating the kit, the enclosure andat least two of the components with the patient.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method performed by a patient's dental professional. Themethod includes the steps of making a copy of a patient's teeth, andsending the copy of the patient's teeth to a kit provider that assemblesa kit comprising an enclosure, and at least two of the followingcomponents: at least one bonding tray, a tool for enamel reproximation,an orthodontic wire, brackets, ligature ties, bonding adhesive, at leastone cheek retractor, orthodontic cement, a thank you card to give to thepatient, and a treatment plan. The method also includes, receiving theassembled kit, applying braces to the patient's teeth using thecomponents in the kit, placing at least some of the components back intothe kit, storing the kit, and reusing the kit at the patient'ssubsequent visits in a preferred embodiment, the components in the kitare never hot sterilized after being placed in the enclosure.

The present invention provides a kit wherein the process of makingindirect bonding trays is consolidated with providing the brackets andother tools/components. Practitioner inventory costs are reduced byeliminating the need to stock brackets, wires, metal and rubber ligatureties, and reproximation disc, strips and burs, etc. Preparation time isreduced because tools do not need hot sterilization, which can degradethe effectiveness of the tools because they are maintained for theparticular patient in a convenient and reusable storage box. Thecomponents become unique tools to be used only on that patient. Thepresent invention also helps eliminate the risk of cross contaminationbetween patients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an orthodontic kit with the top removed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Described herein are preferred embodiments of an orthodontic kit andmethods for using the kit 10 and the components therein and/or providingthe kit to an orthodontic practitioner. In a preferred embodiment, thekit 10 of the present invention allows the dentist to provideorthodontic therapy for a specific patient. The kit 10 preferablycomprises a single container 12 adapted for use with a single patient.The container 12 can include orthodontic tools and components that arenecessary during the entire time over which the orthodontic practitionerprovides the orthodontic therapy to the patient (i.e., the entire timefrom the application to the removal of the braces). In anotherembodiment, the kit may only include the tools and components necessaryfor the application or installation of the braces.

These components include (but are not limited to) upper and lowerindirect bonding trays 14 a and 14 b (referred to generally herein asindirect bonding trays 14), a disc 16 for enamel reproximation, adiamond bur 18 for enamel reproximation, a diamond strip 20 for enamelreproximation (referred to collectively as “tools for enamelreproximation”), orthodontic wires 22 (different sizes can be includedin a single kit), brackets 24, metal and rubber ligature ties 26 and 28,bonding adhesive resin 30, cheek retractors 32, orthodontic cement 34,thank you card to give to patient 36, treatment plan by an orthodonticprofessional 38 (discussed below), tooth picks 40 (or the like), toothbrush 42, referral cards to give to patient 44, a brush for paintingbonding adhesive on teeth 46, patient facial wipe 48, patientinstructions 50, patient wax 52, brackets and/or wires that arespecifically colored for the patient's teeth 22 and 24 (discussed below)and other tools and components typically used in orthodontic procedures.

The current invention is to provide a kit 10 where the bonding tray(s)14 and brackets 24 are pre-assembled by the company that makes thebonding tray(s) 14 using brackets 24 that are selected from a number ofpossible designs based on an evaluation of what will work best for thatpatient. It will be understood that the practitioner may only use asingle bonding tray 14 if only the top or bottom teeth are being workedon. However, in the exemplary embodiment described herein two bondingtrays 14 are used. In other embodiments, more than two trays can beused.

As discussed above, currently, the practitioner typically inventoriesbrackets and sends those selected for the particular patient with themolds or teeth models (referred to generally herein as “a copy of thepatient's teeth”) to the lab. It is not efficient or practical for apractitioner to have a large variety of brackets. However, theorthodontic/dental lab, manufacturing facility or the like (referred toherein as the “kit provider”), because of the volume necessary toprovide kits and brackets to multiple practitioners, can easily maintainthis inventory. It will be understood that the custom trays greatlyreduce the labor required by the practitioner because all of thebrackets are in one tray and can be placed simultaneously as opposed todirectly bonding brackets one by one without using trays.

Assembling all of the required parts for that particular patient by thekit provider results in lower operating cost for the practitionerbecause the practitioner will no longer need to maintain an inventory ofthe many parts required for this procedure. The bonding trays 14 (atleast one tray for the upper teeth 14 a and/or at least one tray for thelower teeth 14 b) are customized for each specific patient because thekit provider gets to select the most appropriate components for thispatient.

In use, the patient (referred to herein as “Patient A”) visits thepractitioner's office and the practitioner makes a mold of the patient'steeth. The practitioner then sends the mold and/or a model of thepatient's teeth made from the mold to the kit provider. The kit providerthen selects the brackets 24 for Patient A (based on the practitioner'srequest) from its inventory and prepares the custom bonding trays 14 forPatient A. The kit provider then places the trays 14 in a container 12and assembles the kit 10 by collecting the remainder of the toolsnecessary for the orthodontic therapy of Patient A and ships the kit 10to the practitioner.

Accordingly, the practitioner preferably receives a custom kit 10 madespecifically for Patient A that contains bonding trays 14 made from themodel of Patient A's teeth, which already contain the brackets 24therein positioned properly for application to Patient A's teeth, alongwith a plurality of other components and tools, as listed above (some orall of the components and tools listed above can be included in the kit10).

After Patient A visits the practitioner's office again, the practitionerapplies the brackets 24 and the remainder of the components (commonlyreferred to collectively as “braces”) to Patient A's teeth and usevarious other tools from the kit 10 as desired. After the applicationprocess, the practitioner then places the tools, such as the diamond bur18, strips 20 and disc 16, cheek retractor (s) 32, extra wires 22,ligatures 26 and 28, etc. back into the container 12 for use duringPatient A's subsequent visits. The tools may be spray cleaned or thelike, but none of them have to be hot sterilized or discarded becausethe only patient they will be used with is Patient A. However, they canbe hot sterilized, if desired. The practitioner then stores the kit 10as desired until it is needed for Patient A's next visit. Over thecourse of the orthodontic therapy to Patient A, the kit 10 is used eachtime Patient A visits the practitioner s office.

In one preferred embodiment, the kit 10 includes a treatment plan 38 bya professional/expert that is employed by/consults for or is otherwiseretained by the kit provider. In this embodiment, the expert reviews thepatient's teeth model/mold and develops a treatment plan based onhis/her expertise. For example, the treatment plan 38 may include tipsfor which wires to start with, which teeth may need special attention,potential pitfalls to avoid (possibly referring to specific teeth),potential problems that could arise with this patient's bite, etc.

In another preferred embodiment, the kit 10 can include brackets 24and/or wires 22 that are specifically colored for the patient's teeth.In this embodiment, at the time the practitioner takes the mold of thepatient's teeth he/she can also use a shade tab or the like to determinethe exact color of the patient's teeth. In a specific embodiment, theshade tab may be provided by the kit provider. The practitioner can thenorder from the kit provider brackets 24 and wires 22 that are colored tomatch the shade or color of the patient's teeth. These colored bracketsand/or wires are then included in the kit 10.

In this embodiment, the kit provider may have the ability to coat and/ormanufacture the brackets 24 and wires 22 to match the colors/shadesordered by the practitioner.

In another preferred embodiment, to provide even more assurance that thepatient and components are matched, the kit can include a system formarking or coding the storage box/container 12 and all of thecomponents, tools therein to assure that the parts are associated withor only used on the correct patient.

One method for doing this is to use REID (radio frequencyidentification) tags on all of the components in the kit. The use ofRFID technology is well known. Accordingly, a description of thetechnology and how it works will be omitted. All of the REID tags 54(only one tag is shown in FIG. 1 on the container 12, however, it willbe understood that an RFID tag 54 would be included on most or all ofthe components therein) correspond to one another and provide a way toidentify all of the components as belonging to or being associated withthat kit and that patient. A corresponding RFID tag 54 can also beplaced on the patient's chart. In performing any procedures on thepatient, whether it be putting the braces on, adjusting the braces,etc., an REID reader at the dental chair will then assure that all ofthe parts used in the procedure are associated with the current patient.RFID identification of dental components and patient data (x-rays,patient charts, for example) linked to the patients chart can be used inany dental specialty or in general dentistry. RFID technology isadvantageously used to assure that all the components and informationare correctly linked to the correct patient. This saves time, reducesthe potential for error and allows the kit to be used with that patientthroughout the period that he/she is fitted with the braces.

In another embodiment, to associate the components with that patient, apatient number can be associated with or placed on all of the components(chart, x-rays, etc.). For example, this can be done by placingnumbered/lettered labels, stickers on the components, placing barcodereadable placards/labels, etc. on the components or otherwise encodingthe components. With this done, even if the items become separated fromthe primary storage box 12, they can still be identified properly.

In general, the kit 10 reduce in chair labor, preparation labor time andinventory costs. It consolidates the process of making the bonding trays14 with providing the brackets 24. Inventory costs are reduced byeliminating the need to stock brackets, wires, metal and rubber ligatureties, and reproximation disc, strips and burs. Preparation time isreduced because tools do not need hot sterilization, which can degradethe effectiveness of the instruments. In other cases, the bonding tray14 can be used again if the patient knocks off a bracket 24. So, it isadvantageous to keep the bonding tray (s) 14 in the kit 10.

The embodiments described above are exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention. Those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses of, anddepartures from, the above-described embodiments without departing fromthe inventive concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the presentinvention is to be defined solely by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A kit for use by a dental professional for providing orthodontic therapy using braces to a single patient, the kit comprising an enclosure and the following components: a. at least one bonding tray, b. a tool for enamel reproximation, c. at least first and second orthodontic wires, wherein the first and second orthodontic wires are different sizes, d. brackets, e. ligature ties, f. bonding adhesive, and g. at least one cheek retractor.
 2. The kit of claim 1 wherein the dental professional uses the first orthodontic wire at a first visit of the single patient and the second orthodontic wire at a second visit of the single patient.
 3. The kit of claim 2 wherein at least one of the components is used during the second visit, and wherein the component is not hot sterilized between the first and second visits.
 4. The kit of claim 3 wherein the tool for enamel reproximation is a diamond bur, a diamond disc or a diamond strip.
 5. The kit of claim 4 wherein the first and second orthodontic wires and brackets are colored to match the patient's teeth.
 6. A method performed by a patient's dental professional comprising the steps of: a. making a copy of a patient's teeth, b. sending the copy of the patient's teeth to a kit provider, wherein the kit provider assembles a kit comprising an enclosure and at least two of the following components: i. at least one bonding tray, ii. a tool for enamel reproximation, iii. an orthodontic iv. brackets, v. ligature ties, vi. bonding adhesive, and vii. at least one cheek retractor, c. receiving the assembled kit, d. applying braces to the patient's teeth using the components in the kit, e. placing at least some of the components back into the enclosure, f. storing the kit, and g. reusing at least one of the components from the kit at at least one of the patient's subsequent visits, wherein the components are reused without being hot sterilized.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the kit includes a patient identifier for associating the kit with the patient.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the patient identifier is a barcode.
 9. The method of claim 6 wherein the tool for enamel reproximation is a diamond bur, a diamond disc or a diamond strip.
 10. The method of claim 6 wherein the kit includes at least first and second orthodontic wires, and wherein he first orthodontic wire is used at the patient's initial visit where the braces are applied, and wherein at a subsequent visit the first orthodontic wire is replaced with the second orthodontic wire.
 11. A method comprising the steps of: a. receiving a kit that includes an enclosure and tools and components for providing orthodontic therapy using braces to a single patient, b. applying the braces to the single patient's teeth using the tools, c. placing the tools back into the kit, d. storing the kit, and e. reusing at least one of the tools or components from the kit at at least one of the single patient's subsequent visits during the term of the orthodontic therapy, wherein the components are reused without being hot sterilized.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the kit includes at least one indirect bonding tray.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the kit includes a patient identifier for associating the kit with the patient.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the patient identifier is a barcode. 